Persecuted Chinese Human Rights Warrior Attends Supreme Court Vigil

Washington, D.C. (7 October 2008) – A chance encounter on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court building brought together the United States' pro-life community and one of the leading figures in China's human rights movement.

Li Fangping, the Chinese attorney famous for his defense of human life, and a group of 12 Chinese human rights activists were visiting Washington, D.C. They chanced upon American Life League's Pro-Life Memorial Day vigil on the steps of the Supreme Court building Oct. 6 while touring the city.

As the Chinese visitors stood listening to speeches from the nation's leading pro-life activists, they soon realized they were fighting the same battle for the right to life of the preborn.

Fangping has repeatedly been persecuted for defending an activist who protested forced abortion and sterilization.

According to the Aug. 22 AsiaNews.it, Li Fangping was " placed under residential surveillance and monitoring" during the 2008 Olympics.

In 2006, he suffered a serious head injury when he was attacked with an iron rod and beaten for his stand against China's brutal forced abortion and population control program.

Fangping has long been one of the few courageous voices for the preborn in communist China.

Fangping, with the assistance of an interpreter, joined the Pro-Life Memorial Day vigil with a moving speech about his dangerous mission in China.

"His eyes shone with joy," said Katie Walker, communications director for American Life League. "Even through an interpreter, everyone felt the depth of his passion for justice and his dedication to the rights of all persons – especially those most vulnerable little ones."

Fangping was accompanied by members of the China Aid Association, an advocacy group that works to liberate the Chinese Church from harassment and imprisonment, and expose the Chinese government's torture and murder of Christians.

"Meeting these beautiful people and hearing their impassioned stories of self-sacrifice for the youngest victims of China's communist regime was providential and powerful," said Walker. "It shed light on the scourge of abortion worldwide and the unholy connection between abortion and the corrosion of all other human rights."

American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to death. For more information or media inquiries, please contact Katie Walker at 540.659.4942.